- Banned Books Week will take place from October 1 to October 7, 2023, with the theme “Give the Freedom to Read.” The American Library Association is leading this effort.
Of the books that have been banned or removed from school library shelves in Florida, a surprising number have been turned into TV shows, series or binge-watching movies.
In September, the Florida Department of Education released an impressive list of books removed from school library shelves in the past year. In Florida, 386 books were removed from 1,218 objections last year, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. Clay County had the most books seized (177), followed by Martin County (98) and Manatee County (25 books seized), the Democrat said.
Sometimes even authors expressed their opinions about the removal of books from Florida schools.
When bestselling author James Patterson learned that his “Maximum Ride” series had been removed from Martin County school libraries in the spring, he responded in a USA TODAY article: “If you’re going to ban this book, no child under 12 should go to any what Marvel Movies? Patterson lives in Palm Beach County and owns a home in Martin County.
Judy Blume, a legendary young adult author based in Key West, Florida, discussed the banning and removal of books in her documentary Judy Blume Forever, published on Amazon. Blum’s best-selling book, Forever, has been pulled from the shelves of the Martin County Library. “I was accused of all kinds of atrocities,” Blum says in the 2023 documentary. “At one point, because I am a Planned Parenthood advocate, I received about 700 death threats a day. We took this very seriously.”
Interestingly, shortly after Judy Blume’s documentary became available to watch on Amazon, a live-action film based on the author’s book Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret” debuted on the big screen in April 2023. The film stars Rachel McAdams (Mean Girls, The Notebook, Wedding Crashers) and Abby Ryder Fortson (Ant-Man and Ant-Man and the Wasp).
Here’s a list of TV shows, series and movies based on books pulled from the shelves of Florida school libraries.
Thirteen Reasons Why on Netflix
Ten years after Jay Asher’s Thirteen Reasons Why gained national attention for its frank depictions of suicide and sexual assault, the book became a Netflix binge-watching series and a social media phenomenon in 2017.
The book and series follow teenager Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford in the series) who dies by suicide and leaves behind notes for the people she claims are the “reasons” she did it. Katherine Langford plays Hannah, and Dylan Minnette (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) plays Clay Jensen. The show, which features trigger warnings and contact information for suicide support, aired for four seasons.
Why?Is 13 Reasons Why more controversial than other depictions of suicide?
How the series helped the book:Netflix series makes 13 Reasons Why a #1 USA TODAY bestseller
The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu
Based on the bestselling 1985 novel by Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale is an award-winning science fiction series on Hulu starring Elisabeth Moss of Mad Men fame, Gilmore Girls’ Alexis Bledel and Yvonne Strahovski. According to the biography page on IMDB, The Handmaid’s Tale is set in a dystopian future where a woman is forced to live as a concubine under a fundamentalist theocratic dictatorship. The series has been airing since 2017, has a TV-MA rating, and the sixth season is in production (which will be its last).
In a 2017 USA TODAY story, The Handmaid’s Tale star and author Elisabeth Moss and Margaret Atwood, respectively, say, “Yes, watch The Handmaid’s Tale, but don’t rush it.”
movie “The Hate U Give”
A year after Angie Thomas’s novel debuted, The Hate U Give premiered in theaters in 2018. The film adaptation stars Amandla Stenberg (The Hunger Games), Regina Hall (Girls Trip and Scary Movie). “” films) and Anthony Mackie (Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”). On the IMDB page of The Hate U Give, Starr witnesses her childhood best friend Khalil being fatally shot at the hands of a police officer. Now, facing pressure from all sides of society, Starr must find her voice and stand up for what is right.
Film “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, starring Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson films), Emma Watson (Harry Potter films) and Ezra Miller, star of DC’s The Flash, was released in 2012, thirteen years later. The novel was published in 1999.
“Perks” follows Lerman’s character, Charlie, who suffers from depression and is a freshman in high school. The film deals with drug and alcohol use, as well as sexual violence. The book’s author, Stephen Chbosky, also wrote and directed the film, which received critical acclaim.
film “Speak”
Speak co-starred Kristen Stewart (the Twilight films) and then-boyfriend Michael Angarano (Sky High and This Is Us) in the 2004 film about a teenage girl who refuses to speak after a high school party. went wrong. . Stewart’s character was sexually assaulted and deliberately remains silent to cope with the trauma of the attack and the reactions of her former friends and mother.
movie “The Lovely Bones”
2009 film The Lovely Bones starring Saoirse Ronan (The Host, Stephenie Meyer’s Atonement), Mark Wahlberg (The Fighter, Instant Family) and Stanley Tucci (The Devil Wears Prada) from Alice’s novel of the same name Seybold 2002. The film follows Ronan’s character, a young girl who was sexually assaulted and murdered, and watches from an “in-between” world that is neither heaven nor earth as her family seeks revenge while overcoming grief.
TV movie “Ask Alice”
Written in diary form, Ask Alice was originally published anonymously in 1971, although Beatrice Sparks was eventually credited as the author. Two years later, the 1973 film adaptation starred Jamie Smith-Jackson and William Shatner (Star Trek, Boston Legal). The book and TV movie chronicle Alice’s drug-using life at age 15.
“Wicked” on Broadway
Wicked, the beloved Broadway musical that is being made into a live-action film, is based on the film Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. The acclaimed Broadway show, starring Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenowith and currently starring Ariana Grande, Dove Cameron (Disney Channel) and Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton), tells the story of the Witches of Oz in a film set to hit theaters Thanksgiving 2024 . Grande plays Glinda the Good Witch with Cynthia Eric as Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West.
“I’m crying real tears.”See photos of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s ‘Wicked’ transformation
Green and pink!‘Wicked’ hits with first footage, teases ‘Defying Gravity’ by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo
movie “The Kite Runner”
Author Khaled Hosseini published The Kite Runner in 2003, and a PG-13 rated film of the same name was released in 2007. The story details friendship, betrayal, sexual assault, guilt and redemption. Beware, spoilers: The author has a cameo role in the film.
movie “My Sister’s Keeper”
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult was released in 2004, and in 2009 the PG-13 rated drama of the same name was released with Abigail Breslin (Definitely Maybe, Little Miss Sunshine), Cameron Diaz (My Best Friend) ). The Wedding,” “The Other Woman”), Jason Patric and Alec Baldwin (“30 Rock”). In the film, Breslin’s young character is a longtime donor to her older sister, who suffers from a form of leukemia. She ends up filing a medical emancipation claim with her parents.
Movie “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a 2016 PG-13 film starring Olivia Cooke, RJ Cyler as Earl, and Thomas Mann. Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation), Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights and Nashville) and Jon Bernthal (The Punisher and Daredevil) star in the film, based on the 2012 book of the same name. Name. The story centers on high school students Greg and Earl and their friend Rachel, who suffers from a form of leukemia. Greg and Earl make documentaries together, with Rachel as the subject.
film “The Diary of Anne Frank”
In 1959, The Diary of Anne Frank was made into a biographical film. Like the book published posthumously, The Diary of Anne Frank tells the story of the life of a young Jewish girl in hiding during the Holocaust and World War II. An illustrated adaptation of “The Diary of Anne Frank” was removed from one Indian River County school’s library shelves after a group of parents complained that the book downplayed the Holocaust and showed a young girl’s thoughts about other women’s bodies, according to TCPalm. “The Diary of Anne Frank” in its original version remains on the shelves of Indian River County high school libraries, TCPalm reports.
movie “Ready Player One”
In 2011, Ernest Cline published the science fiction novel Ready Player One. In 2018, Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg delivered his cinematic take on Cline’s video game fantasy novel. Starring Tye Sheridan (Cyclops in X-Men), Ben Mendelsohn (Captain Marvel and Marvel’s Secret Invasion) and Olivia Cooke (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl), Ready Player One became a blockbuster hit. Spielberg dropped a lot of pop culture Easter eggs in the film about living in virtual reality. Cline is also credited with co-writing the screenplay.
Check it?These 5 Books Banned From Florida School Shelves Might Surprise You
Contributing: Ana Goñi-Lessan, Stephen Walker, Tallahassee Democrat, Colleen Wixon, TCPalm
Sangalang is a senior digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her Twitter or on Instagram @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.